Chapter 16 #2
Focusing on the two in his car, he sang along with them while driving through Summersville.
The two-story pale blue house just outside of town, with its white picket fence, looked like something straight out of a movie.
And it was a welcome sight. As Aaron pulled into the drive, he realized how much it felt like coming home.
He couldn’t help but think about what Vi had said regarding Lars before the madness started.
“Unc Aaron, we make a leaf pile and jump in?” Chloe asked, distracting him in the best way.
Parking, he turned off the car and glanced in the mirror as he removed his seatbelt. “You know what, that I think we can probably manage, but let’s wait until your dad gets home from work.”
He climbed out then went to unbuckle them both, starting with Allie because he knew Chloe would cling to him like the hyperactive koala bear that she was. The second he lifted her, she indeed wrapped herself around him. With a laugh, he grabbed her bag. He would come back for his stuff later.
Inside, Lars’s mother, Dawn, sat on the floor with Maddie. Aaron lowered Chloe, and Dawn smiled as her other two granddaughters raced over to hug her. He picked up the backpack Allie dropped along the way and went to set both on the kitchen table before returning.
“We colored pumpkins today,” Allie said, sitting next to her grandma.
Chloe sat on her other side and was focused on getting her shoes off and struggling. Seeing a tantrum in the making, Aaron stepped forward and knelt. “Need some help?”
She nodded and held up her foot.
“What do you say?” Dawn asked, patting her leg.
“Please?” Chloe clasped her hands together in an overdramatic plea that melted his heart.
He untied her cute yellow tennis shoes then put them by the front door.
When he went back, Chloe was climbing onto the couch.
She stood, and he quickly reached for her just as she started jumping.
He lifted her in the air and spun in a circle, adoring how much she giggled.
Lowering her down to his chest, he tickled her side.
“No jumping on the furniture, you little monkey.”
Chloe made monkey noises and squirmed in his arms.
“I want to fly!” Allie said, rushing to him with her hands up.
Aaron put Chloe on the couch once more then lifted her sister high above him as he turned on the spot. She laughed and kicked her legs, and he reveled in this moment, knowing he wouldn’t be able to do this with her much longer. Before he’d barely lowered her, Chloe was shouting, “My turn again!”
This went on for a solid ten minutes, going back and forth, even giving Maddie a couple spins, until he was thoroughly out of breath and begging for a break.
“All right, girls,” Dawn said with a soft laugh. “Why don’t you go put on some play clothes and we can go outside?”
When they took off, climbing up the stairs, with Allie following behind Chloe like the good big sister that she was, Aaron collapsed onto the couch to catch his breath. Dawn got to her feet then lifted Maddie up. “You’re so good with them.”
“I love them,” he said with a shrug, as if it was obvious.
“I know, but seeing it still amazes me sometimes.” She took a seat beside him. “Watching Lars grow with them and turn into a father has been incredible, but you’ve been right here the whole time too. You’ve come a long way from that troublemaker who once made a slip-and-slide in my kitchen.”
A snort escaped him. “That was a fun day.”
She shook her head and shifted Maddie on her lap, but the little girl reached for him. He took her with a smile, letting her stand and bounce on top of his legs.
“I was so pi—mad,” Dawn said, glancing at the toddler, but she was still grinning. “There was soap and water everywhere.”
“Juice?” Maddie said, pointing toward the kitchen.
Aaron held her close and stood. When her grandma followed, he continued their conversation, “These girls are my world.”
He looked around for a sippy cup, and she held one up that must have been in the other room. She set it on the counter and then retrieved the apple juice from the fridge before pouring a bit. Adding some water, she mixed it around and handed it over.
Maddie grabbed it, and Aaron quickly reached to steady it.
“Thank you, Aaron,” Dawn said, drawing his attention to her.
Throughout his life, Charlie’s mom had always been like another mother to him, but so had she.
“For being here with them. I know Lars can do it, but it means a lot to both of them that you’re always willing to support them however they need. ”
He wanted to tell her that ‘willing’ wasn’t the right word.
That made it sound like he was making some sort of sacrifice.
But that wasn’t the case at all. It wasn’t a burden in the slightest. He loved being here, being a part of this family that felt like his own in the ways that mattered. Leaving was more difficult.
That thought reminded him of Bri. Had she had love and support like this? Had his father actually stuck around for her because he cared?
“They’re lucky to have you.” She stepped closer and put a hand on his arm. “All of them.”
Aaron swallowed past the lump in his throat. It had been a really long time since anyone had made a sentiment like that about him. For most of his life, he’d been the second choice for everything.
His father chose a different family.
Charlie chose Aiden, the golden son, who always knew exactly what he wanted in life and went after it.
The only time he’d hesitated was with Charlie when they were teenagers.
And that was when Aaron had swooped in and ruined it all.
But even then, even when Aaron and Charlie were happy together, that voice in the back of his head kept reminding him that he wasn’t her first choice.
She’d basically settled for Aaron because he’d convinced Aiden not to ask her out.
He’d convinced himself over time that it had all worked out for the best because they’d ended up loving each other. But it had never been enough.
Guilt washed through him like it did every time he thought about them. Everything was fine now. Aiden and Charlie were together, and by some miracle, they’d forgiven him, but those feelings of being inadequate never went away.
Hearing that he was appreciated by Lars and Mel meant more than he could say.